Ocean-going push-barge and bargeline



May 27, 1969 KEN OHCHO ETAL OCEAN-GOING PUSH-BARGE AND BARGELINE Sheet Original Filed Oct. 24, 1966 Fig.1

y 1969 KEN OHCHO ETAL 3,446,173

OCEAN-GOING PUSHBARGE AND BARGELINE Original Filed Oct. 24, 1966 Sheet 3 of 3 a? 402'; MM 1 May 27, 1969 KEN OHCHO ETAL OCEAN-GOING PUSH-BARGE AND BARGELINE Sheet Original Filed Oct. 24. 1966 INVENTQRS [w M WM J United States Patent 3,446,173 OCEAN-GOING PUSH-BARGE AND BARGELINE Ken Ohcho, Yokohama, Hiromu Ono, Nishinomiya, and Yoshikiyo Kanefusa, Takarazuka, Japan, assignors to Buludoza Koji Kabushiki Kaisha, also known as Bulldozer Koji Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan Continuation of application Ser. No. 589,078, Oct. 24, 1966. This application Oct. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 678,453 Claims priority, application Japan, Oct. 25, 1965, 40/66,286; Apr. 2, 1966, 41/21,389, 41/31,012 Int. Cl. B63b 21/56 US. Cl. 114-235 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE .An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel. The barge has a curved recess in the stern thereof which is open at the main deck, the stern and the bottom and has a generally elliptical cross section in a longitudinal plane and has a wall defining the recess which is concavely curved in cross section. The recess is large enough to receive the bow of the pusher vessel. The bow portion of the said pusher vessel is elliptical in cross section in the longitudinal plane and having a convexly curved hull side. The bow fits into the said recess so as to leave a space therebet'ween. Damping members of resilient material are engaged between the bow portion of the pusher vessel and the wall defining the barge recess, and means are provided connecting the barge and the pusher vessel.

This application is a continuation of application No. 589,078, filed Oct. 24, 1966 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a push-barge and barge line, and its aim is to provide a push-barge and barge line which can be safely propelled by increasing the wave resistance even on the open sea where the waves are high, to say nothing of the inland waterways, canals and calm sea.

Recently the so-called barge line system, in which several or even 20 to 30 barges are propelled by a pushboat, has come to be adopted extensively for the river, canal and coastal transportation This system makes it possible not only to curtail the shipbuilding cost but also to transport a great deal of goods with a small crew. Moreover, in case of this system, the ship operational performance is far greater and the speed can be increased by 20 to 30% at the same horsepower as compared with the traditional tugboat system. Accordingly, this system helps reduce the transportation cost remarkably as compared with the case of the tugboat system.

However, the barge line system by means of a pushboat has been applicable to the navigation on inland watercourses, canals and a calm sea and unsuitable for the transportation on the rough ocean for the following reasons.

The rolling effect received by two vessels of remarkably difierent weight is not the same. The push-boat is far smaller than the barge, and in most cases the push-boat and the barge do not ride on the same swell of the wave. Therefore, in case of the traditional method of connecting the barge and the push 'boat in a freely movable manner, each vessel makes an independent motion on the waves, producing a marked phase difference between the two vessels. As a result, the barge and the push-boat pitch and roll each independently, causing extremely big load to the joint of the two vessels, Besides, the external force at the time of the turning movement is given as very big load to the above-mentioned joints, causing damage to these parts. Moreover, in case of rough seas, a collision often occurs between the barge and the push-boat, the

shock of which causes damage to the vessels, making it impossible to continue the barge transportation.

This invention relates to improvement of the joint device of the barge line propelled by a push-boat, overcoming the difiiculties mentioned above. In this invention, the barge is provided with a cave at its stern to accept the bow of the push-boat. The bow of the push-boat is inserted into the said cave at the stern of the barge with a damping device interposed between the contact surfaces, and the two vessels are connected in such a manner as will automatically control the movement within a certain limit, though a small movement is allowed, as a result of which both the barge and the push-boat make an almost identical movement at all times, inflicting no excessive load on the joints.

The particulars of this invention will be explained with reference to each instance of embodiments shown by the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is a top view showing the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the essential parts thereof.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section of the essential parts thereof.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the third embodiment.

FIG 8 is the front view of the essential parts thereof.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of FIG. 7.

In the first embodiment shown by FIGS. 1 to 3, the numeral 1 designates the barge and 6 designates the pushboat, respectively.

The stern 2 of the barge 1 is provided with .a curved cave 4 into which to fit the bow 3 of the push-boat 6, the inner surface 5 of the said cave 4 being a specific concave curvature of the shape of a Rugby ball.

The cave 4 is made as deep as about one half to one third of the length of the push-boat 6, the reason of which will be made clear by the explanation of the second embodiment. The how 3 of the push-boat 6 is formed in an elliptical shape of loose curvature, or in the shape of a Rugby ball of smaller curvature than that of the cave 4 of the said barge 1, so as to fit into the cave 4. When the bow 3 of the push-boat 6 is fitted into the cave 4 of the barge 1, a curved damping material 7 con-, sisting of rubber of large dimension or the like is spread over the internal surface 5 of the cave 4 so that the bow 3 of the push-boat 6 will come in contact with this damping material 7, shock absorbers 8 made of cylindrical rubber of the like being interposed between both sides of the bow 3 and both sides of the cave 4.

The push-boat 6 and the barge 1 are linked together by connecting the front ends of the damping devices 10-10 for which springs or oil pressure is utilized, to the fixing implements 9-9 provided on :both sides of the barge 1, the front ends of the long wire ropes 12-12 being connected to the rear ends of the said damping devices 10-10, the rear ends of the wire ropes 12-12 being reeled up by the winches 13-13 on both sides of the push-boat 6 through the fair leaders 11-11 provided on both sides of the stern of the barge 1.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the barge 1 and the push-boat 6 are linked by means of the wire ropes 12-12, the bow 3 of the push-boat 6 being deeply in serted into the cave 4 .at the stern 2 of the barge 1. Moreover, both the barge 1 and the push-boat 6 have very wide contact surfaces through the damping materials 7, 8, so that large enough contact dimension can be maintained between the two vessels even when there are considerable variations in draft and rolling between the push-boat 6 and the barge 1, with the effect of controlling the movement of the respective vessels. Besides, the barge- 1 and the push-boat 6 are linked together by means of the long wire ropes 12-12 and the said wire ropes 12-12 have at their front ends the damping devices 10-10 for which springs or oil pressure is utilized, so that the impact of sudden load can be softened by means of the said damping devices 10-10 and extension of the wire ropes 12-12. Moreover, though the long wire ropes 12-12 and the fair leaders 11-11 allow both the barge .1 and the push-boat 6 to rise and fall freely to a certain de gree, the two vessels are linked together by fitting the bow 3 of the push-boat 6 into the cave 4 of the barge- 1 so lightly that neither of the two vessels can make any big movement. Consequently, unlike the case of the traditional system, the joints are free from heavy load to be caused by independent big rolling of the barge 1 and the push-boat 6 respectively, so that navigation through heavy waves is made possible by the method of this invention.

The second embodiment shown by FIGS. 4 to 6 isidentical with the first embodiment is respect to the arrangement that a cave 24 is formed at the stern 22 of the barge 21 and the bow 23 of the push-boat 26 is inserted thereinto.

The pivoting point, which is the center of the turning ship, is usually located somewhere about one third from the bow on the center-line connecting the bow and the stern. Therefore, if it is so arranged that over about one third of the push-boat 26 is inserted into the cave 24, the pivoting point 0 of the pushboat 26 will be inside the said cave 24 as shown by FIG. 4.

A hook 14 is installed adjacently to the rear end of the center-line a of the barge 1, that is, in a part adjacent to the bottom of the cave 24, and another hook 15 is installed at the front end of the center-line b of the pushboat 26, that is, at the end of the bow 23, and both hooks 14, 15 are connected by means of the linking implement 16. For the linking implement 16 steel linking rods, wire ropes or the like are utilized. In either case, it is advisable to choose such material .as will be easy to fix or remove and not liable to change the distance between both hooks 14, 15 too much.

It is also advisable that the connecting part of the linking implement 16 and the hooks 14, 15 be so arranged as will maintain the same level. But the draft of a fully loaded barge 21 is of course different from that of an unloaded barge 21, so that the vertical position of the barge 21 against the push-boat 26 is not always same.- Therefore, a window 18 is provided in the middle part of the end of the bow 23 of the push-boat 26 for the purpose of forming a hook 17 with which to connect the linking implement 16 to the push-boat 26 when the relative position of the barge 21 is below that of the pushboat 26, whereby making it possible to fix the linking implement 16 at the same level, even when the barge 1 is below the level of the push-boat 26. The said window 18 is only one in FIG. 6, but two or more windows may be formed as the case may be.

The guiding grooved rollers 19-19 and 20-20 are provided at the same level on the rear ends of both sides of the barge 21 and on the rear ends of both sides of the push-boat 26. A pair of right and left wire ropes -25, each one end of which is fixed at either side in the middle of the push-boat 26, :are passed on the said grooved rollers 19-19 from the inside toward the outside and stretched backward from the outside of the grooved rollers 19-19, and then passed on the grooved rollers 20-20 from the outside toward the inside. Each of the said wire ropes 25-25 is provided with a pulley 27-27 at its end respectively. The wire ropes 29-29, which belong to a pair of right and left w-inches equipped on the push-boat 26, are passed through the said pulleys 27-27 and the ends of the Wire ropes 29-29 are fixed on the push-boat 26. Then the Wire ropes 25-25 are of the barge 21 becomes 4 tightened up by winding the wire ropes 29-29 with the winches 28-28. Besides, damping materials 30, 31-31 made of neoprene and the like are interposed between the innermost surface of the cave 24 and the top of the bow 23 of the push-boat 26 and :also between both sides of the cave 24 and both sides of the push-boat 26.

In case the stern of the barge where the bow of the push-boat touches is simply fiat or in the shape of a shallow cave, when the p'ush boat turns to change its course, the greater part of the pivoting force falls on the wire ropes which connect the stern of the barge and the pushboat, as a result of which the wire ropes and the like are easily broken under heavy load.

In this invention, as shown by FIG. 4, the push-boat 26 is so deeply inserted into the cave 24 as will have its pivoting point 0 inside the said cave 24, and both the barge 21 and the push-boat 26 are almost integrally linked together lengthwise by means of the linking implement 16, ropes 25-25 and damping materials 30, 31- 31, so that in case of rolling caused by side waves both sides of the cave 24 and the push-boat 2'6 alone are subjected to the compressing power and the ropes 25-25 and others are almost free from load. Therefore, if only both sides of the cave 24 and the corresponding sides of the push-boat 26 are constructed strongly enough, the linking par-ts receive no big force even in rolling, and free from trouble in case of a change of course because the shock is mostly absorbed by the damping materials 30, 31-31.

The reason why the portion where the linking implement 16 is connected to the hooks 14, 15 is so arranged as will maintain the same level is that, owing to this arrangement, the linking part between the barge 21 and the push-boat 26 has an identical heaving cycle in case of pitching, that is, both the barge 21 and the push-boat 26 rise and fall synchronously at the linking part. As a result, the linking implement 1 6 receives no great force in the forward and backward direction except vertical rocking force alone, so that the linking part is free from damage.

The same effect can be obtained even when the draft deeper and the linking implement 16 has to be hooked by taking advantage of the book 17 of the push-boat 26, as shown by the oblique lines in FIG. 6.

In the instance of the second embodiment, better results can be obtained by using ropes of highly elastic material made of synthetic fiber like nylon or natural fiber for the linking implement 16. That is, if nylon ropes are utilized as the linking implement 16 and the hooks 14, 15 are linked by means of fastening such nylon ropes after winding them around the books 14, 15 several times, even when the barge 21 and the push-boat 26 are subjected to heavy pitching by high waves with considerable tensile strength working on the linking part, the nylon ropes, only extending more or less, almost free from breaking for their great elasticity. Therefore, transportat-ion by a push-boat is practicable without difliculty even when the waves are high.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show the fixing methods of the damping materials to be used in the first and second embodiments, as well as instances of cooling devices for the damping materials.

In the said figures the numeral 33 designates the barge,

34 designates the push-boat, 35 designates the cave into" which the bow 36 of the push-boat 34 is to be fitted, 37 designates the linking implement with which to connect the barge 33 and the push-boat 34, and 38-38 designate the wire ropes with which to connect the barge 33 and the push-boat 34. These equipments are same as those of the second embodiment shown by FIGS. 4 to 6, so that particular explanation will be omitted.

To the cave 35 of the barge 33 damping materials 40 made of large-sized rubber tires for large-sized motorcars or the like are fixed, taking advantage of wire rope 39 made into a ring as shown by FIGS. 8 and 9.

To be more particular, the damping materials 40 are provided with inserting holes 41 on both sides, through which wire ropes 39 are loosely passed and linked at both ends by means of a linking metal 42 so as to form rings. Then, when the said wire ropes 39 are wound on the outside of a pair of right and left projections 43-43 erected on the upper part of the cave 35 as well as on the outside of a pair of right and left projections erected there-under, the said wire ropes 39 run longitudinally between the projections 43, 44, thus enabling the damping materials 40-40 to slide up and down along the said wire ropes 39.

At the outside end of each projection 43-43, 44-44 protruding pieces 45-45, 46-46 are erected for the prevention of deviation of the wire ropes.

By arranging a large number of damping materials 40 in the cave 35 by the above-mentioned method as shown by FIG. 7, the said damping materials 40 are interposed between the cave 35 and the bow 36 of the push-boat 34.

Furthermore, a sprinkler tube 47 is arranged from the top of the bow 36 of the push-boat 34 to both sides thereof, a numbber of sprinkling holes 48 being provided in a row on the outside of the lower part of the said tube 47, the base of the sprinkler tube 47 being connected to the discharging mouth of the pump 49 provided on the push-boat 34, the end of the sprinkler tube 47 being closed, thus each damping material 40 being cooled by sprinkling sea water, fresh water, oil or the like thereonto by means of the operation of the pump 49.

The above-mentioned structure makes it possible for damping materials 40 to slide up and down along the ropes 39, so that, when the barge 33 and the push-boat 34 pressed against the damping materials 40 make a different up-and-down movement respectively, the damping materials 40 move up and down accordingly, preventing the ropes 39 from receiving great external force. As a result, there is no fear of the ropes 39 being broken even in case of navigation on the rough sea, and :moreover the hooked parts between the ropes 39 and the projections 43-43, 44-44 are free from receiving excessive tension whichever direction the push-boat 34 and the barge 33 may take respectively because the ropes 39 can move right and left to a certain extend between the upper and lower projections 43, 44, allowing some right-andleft movement of the damping materials 40 However, the movable range of the damping materials 40 are limited between the projections 43-43 and the projections 44-44, thus restricting the movable range of both the push-boat 36 and the barge 33, so that there is no fear of the linking parts between the barge 33 and the push-boat 36 being seriously affected, the relative movement of the barge 33 and the push-boat 36 becoming excessively great.

As to the heat to be developed by the friction between the damping materials 40 and the cave 35 of the barge 33 and the bow 36 of the push-boat 34, the said heat can be cooled by means of sprinkling water, oil or the like over the damping materials 40, by sending the said water, oil or the like to the sprinkler tube 47 with the pump 49 and making it spout through the sprinkling holes 48 The above-mentioned damping materials 40 are not necessarily limited to annular materials, such as motorcar tires and the like, but can be in the shape of blocks, and the substance may be neoprene or the like besides rubber. As to the fixing method too, the wire ropes 39 can be replaced by chains or any other appropriate implement to fix the damping materials movably. Besides, the sprinkler tube 47, the pump 49 and the like can be equipped on the barge 33.

As explained above, this invention makes it possible to propel a barge or barges on the rough ocean by means of fitting the bow of the push-boat into the cave provided at the stern of the barge, integrating the barge and the pushboat movably to a slight extent so as to prevent the linking parts between the barge and the push-boat from receiving excessive load. By this method the scope of transportation by means of barges propelled by a push-boat can be remarkably enlarged, though so far limited to navigation on the calm water and sea. Therefore, this is a very useful invention which helps greatly reduce the transportation cost.

We claim:

1. An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel, the said barge having a curved recess in the stern thereof which is open at the main deck, the stern and the bottom and has a generally elliptical cross section in a longitudinal plane and has a wall defining the recess which is concavely curved in cross section, the recess being large enough to receive the bow of the pusher vessel, the bow portion of the said pusher vessel being elliptical in cross section in the longitudinal plane and having a convexly curved hull side, the bow fitting into the recess so as to leave a space therebetween, damping members of resilient material engaged between the bow portion of the pusher vessel and the wall defining the barge recess, and means connecting the barge and the pusher vessel.

2. An ocean-going barge and pusher vessel as claimed in claim 1, in which the connecting means connecting the barge and the pusher vessel together comprise a pair of long wire ropes connected between the barge and the pusher vessel and each having a shock absorber at one end thereof, and a fair lead provided on either side of the stern of the barge through which the respective wire ropes pass.

3. An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel as claimed in claim 1, in which the bow portion of the pusher vessel extends into the recess in the barge a distance such that the pivoting point of the pusher vessel is located inside the said recess.

4. An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel as claimed in claim 3, the connecting means comprising linking means connecting the barge at the center of the recess and the center of the bOtW of the pusher vessel, the linking device substantially preventing relative movement between the barge and the vessel in the fore and aft direction.

5. An ovean-going barge and a pusher vessel as claimed in claim 3, the connecting means comprising elastic linking lines of fiber of good elasticity.

6. An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel as claimed in claim 5 in which said fiber is a natural fiber.

7. An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel as claimed in claim 5 in which said fiber is a synthetic fiber.

8. An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of said pusher vessel and barge has means for securing the connecting means thereon at dilferent vertical positions, whereby the pusher vessel and barge can be connected when they are at various relative levels due to the load on the barge.

9. An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel as claimed in claim 1, in which the damping members positioned between the recess in the stern of the barge and the bow of the pusher vessel are mounted between the pusher vessel and the barge so as to be freely movable within the vertical dimension of the wall defining the recess.

10. An ocean-going barge and a pusher vessel as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising a sprinkler tube mounted on one of the vessels and positioned to sprinkle cooling liquid over the damping members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner. 

